North Korea to stand firm on strengthening its nuclear forces

Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has claimed the US and South Korea are plotting a “nuclear strike” against her country

North Korea will not change its approach to building up its nuclear forces, at a time of rising regional tensions, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has said.

Speaking at a meeting with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Friday, Choe said Pyongyang needs to expand its retaliation capabilities.

“The current situation, as well as prospective threats and challenges, require us more than ever to strengthen our modern strategic nuclear weapons, offensive nuclear weapons, as well as to improve our readiness for nuclear retaliation. I assure you once again that our country will in no way change its course on strengthening its nuclear forces,” she said.

Choe noted that the situation on the Korean peninsula could become explosive at any moment, because the US and South Korea are forming “an alliance with a nuclear component”. This could have a negative impact not just on the peninsula, but on Northeast Asia as a whole, she warned.

The foreign minister claimed the US and South Korea are engaged in “plots to launch a nuclear strike” against North Korea. She cited the arrival of a US strategic submarine in South Korea as proof, as well as several flights of US nuclear bombers over the Korean peninsula.

Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned joint military maneuvers conducted by the United States and South Korea, characterizing them as a possible precursor to aggression.

On Friday, the EU and Japan signed a new security and defense pact. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the partnership as “the first agreement of this nature” that Brussels has made with any Asia-Pacific state, calling it a “historical and very timely step given the situation in both of our regions.” The deal is aimed at increasing joint development of military equipment and combined military drills.

The partnership was concluded a day after North Korea launched a Hwasongpho-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). National leader Kim Jong-un, who observed the test, said it was meant as a signal to any potential aggressors.

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke out against the launch, warning that North Korea’s repeated missile activities are in “clear violation” of Security Council resolutions.

Kim Yo Jong, a senior North Korean official and the sister of the country’s leader, expressed her “strong dissatisfaction” over Guterres’ comments.

“The UN secretary-general has consistently kept quiet about the US and its allies’ anti-DPRK rhetoric and acts with a strong aggressive coloring that become the main cause of the escalated military tension, but stuck to prejudiced and stupid efforts to take issue only with the DPRK’s right to self-defense and make it give it up.” Kim Yo Jong said.